Science, Technology & Nation-building (An Essay)
Introduction
“Matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay” — this is what Filipinos wish for (National Economic and Development Authority 2017). In order to improve or elevate one’s lifestyle, Filipinos put hard-work and dedication to their jobs and careers. However, the citizens are aware that government efforts are essential in attaining the ‘matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay.’
In this article, the following are discussed: overview of the historical development of science and technology in the Philippines, the role of science and technology in the society, government policies geared towards S&T advancement, works and contributions of Filipinos to science and technology and science education in the Philippines.
History Overview of Philippine Science and Technology
Before the hispanization of the country, early Filipinos have exhibited science and technology in their ways of life. This ‘informal’ scientific and technological knowledge that they exhibited and practiced were influenced by factors such as survival, culture and economic activities. Through their ways in agriculture, methods in livestock growing and food production, the scientific knowledge of the early inhabitants of the country is manifested. These methods and ways of work of the early Filipinos are now termed as ‘folk science’ or other times, ‘indigenous science’ (Serafica and others 2018).
The country’s development in science and technology was not only shaped by the lives of early Filipinos. External factors like the colonization of the country by foreign countries, trades with foreign countries and international economic standards (Serafica and others 2018).
During the Spanish era, the country learned new culture and practices brought by the Spaniards. One of the most remarkable contributions of the Spanish colonization was the establishment of a university where philosophy, theology and the humanities are studied — the University of Santo Tomas (then, College of Santo Tomas). It is a university run by Dominicans and was established by Fray Miguel de Benavides. Eventually, the university opened courses for jurisprudence, canonical law, medicine and pharmacy (Tegon-Geron and others 2018).
The galleon trade has brought more science and technology in the country. These trades allowed foreign ideas, concepts, technology and Western culture and practices to enter the country and influence the people’s lives (Serafica and others 2018).
The Americans, on the other hand, brought remarkable contributions to the development of science and technology in the country. One of which is the introduction of the secularized public school system. In 1901, Act №74 of the Philippine Commission created the Department of Public Instruction. This act included provisions that established schools that provide free primary education for Filipinos. The commission also established the Philippine Normal School in Manila (now, Philippine Normal University) to train Filipino teachers (Tegon-Geron and others 2018). Americans primarily aimed to develop human resources in the Philippines and brought great impact in the country.
For the People: Government Policies in Science and Technology
Science and technology (S&T) play an important role in sustaining a long-term growth of the country. In the Philippine Development Plan 2017–2022, the strategies
In the Philippines, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is the agency concerned with advancing the country’s scientific and technological capacity. The department is mandated to “provide central direction, leadership and coordination of scientific and technological efforts and ensure that the results therefrom are geared and utilized in areas of maximum economic and social benefits for the people” (Executive Order 128 1987).
The DOST is composed of the following: the sectoral planning councils, collegial and scientific bodies, S&T services and research and development (R&D) institutes. The department puts effort into attaining the following 11-point agenda (DOST 2017):
- pursue R&D to address pressing national problems
- conduct R&D to enhance productivity and improve management of resources
- engage in R&D to generate and apply new knowledge and technologies across sectors
- strengthen and utilize regional R&D capabilities
- maximize utilization of R&D results through technology transfer and commercialization
- develop STI human resources and build a strong STI culture
- upgrade STI facilities and capacities to advance R&D activities and expand S&T services
- expand STI assistance to communities and the production sector, particularly the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)
- provide STI-based solutions for disaster risks and climate change adaptation and mitigation
- strengthen industry-academe-government and international STI collaboration.
- enhance effectiveness of STI governance
The Department of Science and Technology worked together with the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) in order to determine strategies and policies that can help the country prepare itself in accomplishing the ASEAN 2015 goals. The resulting policies were clustered into four as follows:
- Social sciences, humanities, education, international policies and governance
- Physics, engineering and industrial research, earth and space sciences and mathematics
- Medical, chemical and pharmaceutical sciences
- Biological sciences, agriculture and forestry
Aside from these, the DOST have existing projects such as: (1) funds for researches, patents and projects related to science and technology; (2) scholarship grants for undergraduate and graduate studies of S&T students; (3) more campuses of the Philippine Science High School where young Filipino students are trained in S&T; (4) S&T parks to encourage academic and industrial partnerships; (5) Balik Scientist Program to encourage Filipino scientists to come home and work on researches and projects with fellow Filipino scientists; (6) establishment of the National Science Complex and the National Engineering Complex in order to develop S&T and engineering manpower resources in the country.
Other programs that are supported by the government include those that were established and developed by the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Philippine Congress.
These policies, projects and programs that were established, developed and supported by the concerned government agencies are shaped by several factors: (1) national goals, international treaty, legal frameworks and the country’s social needs, issues and problems (Serafica and others).
Get to Know Them: Filipinos in Science
(Lee-Chua 2000; 2008)
Dr. Queena Lee-Chua, in her book 10 Outstanding Filipino Scientists published in 2000, identified the following Filipinos whose researches and works have made useful and significant contributions to science and technology in the country:
Ramon Barba, tissue culture in Philippine mangoes
Josefino Comiso, observing Antarctica using satellite images
Jose Cruz Jr., famous electrical engineer, offices of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Lourdes Cruz, research on seasnail venom
Fabian Dayrit, herbal medicine research
Rafael Guerrero III, Tilapia culture research
Enrique Ostrea Jr., invention of meconium drugs testing
Lilian Patena, research on plant biotechnology
Mari-jo Ruiz, outstanding educator and graph theorist
Gregory Tangonan, communications technology research
In 2006, the same author published a book called In Love with Science which featured young scientists and their contributions. Rhodora Aldemita, Victor Amoroso, Orville Bondoc, Paciente Cordero, Ma. Corazon de Ungria, Glorina Pocsidio and Glenn Gregorio are some of the outstanding young scientists in the field of Biology. In the study of chemistry, Ma. Alicia Aguinaldo, Christina Binag, Mary Ann Endoma, Erwin Enriquez, Ernesto Luis and Jose Oclarit are included in the outstanding young scientists. In other disciplines, the outstanding young scientists include Nathaniel Bantayan, Dindo Campilan, Ma. Regina Hechanova, Queena Lee-Chua, Patricio Palmes, Cecilia Reyes, Gabriel Romero and Leocadio Sebastian.
It is very common to see and learn about contributions of famous scientists from foreign countries in our textbooks. However, as Filipinos, it is important that we are aware of the Filipino scientists who have made significant works and contributions to the development of science and technology in the country.
Science Education in the Philippines
Under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Science Education Institute (SEI) is the sub-agency which is mandated to undertake science education and training, administer scholarships, awards and grants, undertake S&T manpower development and formulate plans and establish programs and projects for the promotion and development of S&T education and training in coordination with DepEd, CHED and other institutions of learning (Executive Order 128).
Some of their ongoing programs and projects include undergraduate and graduate scholarship grants and research grants. In the high school level, the establishment of the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS) is a major leap into developing and honing young gifted students in the Philippines. This institution has the end-view of preparing the young students for careers in science.
In the elementary level, the Department of Education implemented the Special Science Elementary Schools (SSES). The project is inclined to offering children a learning environment that fosters their scientific interests.
Besides these, there are other institutions of the government that contributes to the growth of S&T through education such as the Quezon City Regional Science High School (QCRHS), the Manila Science High School (MSHS) and the Central Visayan Institute Foundation.
In the general perspective of education in the Philippines, the latest action of the government is the implementation of the K to 12 Education Program. This curriculum uses a spiral progression approach in learning the sciences across levels.
Afterword: S&T Towards Nation-Building
Nation-building is a process with an end goal of establishing common interests, goals and preferences among citizens of a country towards the formation of that country where the people have no intentions of separating themselves from one another (Alesina and Reich 2015).
We can reach commonality in our interests, aims and predilections as citizens if we attain freedom from destitution and injustice in all forms. Science and technology in the country should be enhanced because in a technologically driven century, our society has germinated new and atypical issues and conflicts that demands for resolutions that are equally new and unconventional. Through science and technology, we can obtain deeper understanding of societal problems and become good decision-makers who will find solutions and implement them. Only then, Filipinos may be able to realize the “matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay.”
References:
Alesina, Alberto and Reich, Bryony. (2015). Nation-building. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/nationbuilding_alesina_reich
Executive Order №128, s. 1987, Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/EO128
Lee-Chua, Queena N. (2000). 10 outstanding filipino scientists. Quezon City: Anvil Publishing.
Lee-Chua, Queena N. and Sebastian, Leocadio S. (2006). In love with science. Pasic City: Anvil Publishing.
National Economic and Development Authority. (2017). Philippine Development Plan 2017–2022, abridged version. Pasig City: National Economic and Development Authority.
Serafica, Janice Patricia Javier, Pawilen, Greg Tabios, Caslin, Bernardo Nicolas & Alata, Eden Joy Pastor. (2018). Science, technology, and society. Manila, Philippines: Rex Book Store.
Tegon-Geron, Antonette G., Guaves, Grace R., Maalihan, Erma De Mesa, Malaluan, Nerrie E., Rocina, Jose Aims R. (2018). Science technology and society. Malabon City, Philippines: Mutya Publishing House, Inc.
